SIOUX FALLS (AP) - Red Cross volunteers in South Dakota helped more people affected by home fires than all other disasters combined in 2014.
The group provided food, blankets and other services to more than 620 people whose homes were affected by fires throughout the year. The organization also provided financial support to 198 households to help replace lost belongings.
The group this year assisted in several other disasters across South Dakota, including a tornado in Wessington Springs that destroyed or damaged dozens of homes and a large fire at a motel in Pierre that displaced nearly 40 people.
The Red Cross says that nationwide its volunteers respond to a disaster every eight minutes and the vast majority of those are home fires.
